WARNOCK EYES UP EARLY PRESENTS
defender said: “I was asked during ummer and it has snowballed. thought it would just be one or two but it has ended up being a lot e. They asked me to come back and ome more which means it must been alright.
Marvin binned me off I don’t think e sticking my CV out anywhere! ve had so much stick it’s a joke. is way out of my comfort zone but enjoyed it. I just gave it the same oach that I give playing football – nd do it to the best of my ability.” hat approach has served Mariappa and is a major reason why he has n able to battle back from a failed larship at 16 to make almost 300 earances in two Watford spells. wanted to give everything I could y to make it,” he said. “Not getting holarship made me knuckle down focus. It was heartbreaking at the as you work your whole life for that decision but it’s the best thing that ever happened to my career.”
Mariappa answered concerns about his height – “5ft 10 at a push” – by working relentlessly on his heading ability, while also leaning on traits picked up from his schooldays playing basketball.
He also studied defenders of similar size, like Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol and Ivan Cordoba. Those efforts helped him handle giant-sized Peter Crouch and Kenwyne Jones when targeted by Stoke. Mariappa also responded to concerns
This will be the first top-flight meeting between Watford and Cardiff, and the first in any competition since December 2014 (4-2 win for Watford in the second tier).
Cardiff have lost one of their previous seven games against Watford in all competitions (W3 D3 L1).
Watford are winless in their last three games against Cardiff at Vicarage Road (D2 L1), with their last win coming in December 2010 (4-1).
Watford have lost their last two Premier League home games – they’ve not lost three in a row at home in the top-flight since April 1988 (a run of five in a row).
Watford won their opening four games of the Premier League season, but since then they have won just nine points from 12 games (W2 D3 L7) and only Huddersfield (eight points), Southampton (five) and Fulham (five) have won fewer in this period. about a perceived lack of pace by joining a local sprint club in Harrow off his own back.
That involved missing out on youthteam holidays to attend the threetimes-a-week sessions three summers running in his teens.
And seeing the slightly older Ashley Young battle back from an initial Watford knock-back because of his size provided further inspiration.
Mariappa (left) said: “Things that were seen as negatives spurred me on ALL that Neil Warnock wants for Christmas is to get his three transfer targets over the line early next month.
Cardiff’s veteran manager (left), whose side face Watford today, is ready to work through the festive period to try to
After their win against Southampton last week, Cardiff are looking to secure consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since April 1962.
Cardiff striker Danny Ward has scored four goals in four league appearances against Watford, while the only hat-trick of his career came at Vicarage Road back in May 2014 (for Huddersfield). and now my heading ability and pace have ended up being strong points.”
His work ethic and defiant attitude have helped Mariappa become a player Watford know they can trust.
He added: “I have been part of this club pretty much since I was nine. I’ve gone to games and watched us at Wembley get promoted, seen us under Graham Taylor, and been through a lot of experiences so to still be here putting the shirt on means a lot. I will always give 100 per cent for this club.” secure the full-back, midfielder and striker he wants to keep the Bluebirds up.
He has already watched Nantes’ £20million-rated Argentine striker Emiliano Sala and is keen on a reunion with Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne, but admits doing any sort of deal is very difficult.
He said: “It is very difficult to attract established Premier League players and we can only attract a certain type of player because we are favourites to get relegated.” READING’S search for a new manager is turning into a farce after being snubbed by a host of big-names including Steve Bruce.
Bruce (below), sacked by Aston Villa in October, was approached by the Royals but he did not want the
job. The Championship side also spoke to ex-Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic about succeeding the sacked Paul Clement but were put off by his wage demands.
Vitoria de Guimaraes chief Luis Castro also rejected the Royals’ advances while a move to prise club legend Phil Parkinson away from Bolton is not universally supported by the board.
It means Under-23 coach Scott Marshall will continue as caretaker against fellow strugglers Rotherham today.
Marshall said: “There has been a bit of speculation but I’ve just been focused on what’s in front of me.
“If it changes all of a sudden then we’ll deal with that.”